French authorities will start stopping migrant vessels in English Channel following British demands
French officials have consented to begin stopping small boats in the English Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader asking him to support the initiative and stating there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have infrequently acted to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both officers and civilians.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police representative says officers will start taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible method to disable the engines of the boats.
The decision to intervene at all is a major advancement, coming after a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which ceased when the former government official left government.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a summit between the UK leader and President, when French police were observed wading into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.
Now French officials will again be permitted to intercept boats before they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking ways to adjust to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for comment.
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